Match Report: Prudhoe YC 2-1 Chester-Le-Street United by Charlie Walker
Battling performance from the YC earns 3 Points
Goals from Matt Law and Collins Unuareokpa in the first half set the YC up in pole position to win the tie. In the second period, the away side’s Nathan Conroy converted from the spot, shifting the tide of the game. However, Prudhoe dug deep and held on to take all the spoils.
Both teams came into the fixture in strong form, with Prudhoe looking to make it three consecutive wins in the league after victories against Chester-le-Street Town and Sunderland West End.
As for Chester-le-Street United, the visitors sat a position above the YC in the league and hoped to make it five wins on the bounce.
An impeccably observed minute silence got us underway at Essity Park.
In the 8th minute, Prudhoe replicated their fast starts from previous weeks and swiftly assumed control of the game. Freddie Marr’s defence-splitting pass set off Law down the right-hand side, whose powerful strike soared into the top left corner.
15 minutes later, Prudhoe's lead almost doubled. After free-flowing play across the pitch, Darren Graham fizzed the ball across the box, with Unuareokpa narrowly failing to get the final touch.
With the clock at 38 minutes, Prudhoe added a second to take the tie away from the visitors. Unuareokpa pounced on a stray pass from the away side and, after twisting and turning to beat his man, rifled home.
In the second half, the away side’s pressure intensified, but the forward line struggled to unlock the YC’s battling defence.
That said, Chester-le-Street United got their goal in the 64th minute as Nathan Conroy confidently slotted his penalty kick into the bottom right corner.
With 15 minutes to go, the away side looked to have scored an equaliser as Steven Siyanbola finished on the follow-up of Harley Lawton’s strike, but the goal was chalked off for offside.
10 minutes later, Liam Dalton thwarted the visitors’ chance of a leveller. A last-ditch interception at the goal mouth proved vital to stop Dominic Hughes’ cutback and an almost certain goal for Chester-le-Street.
Despite the away team's push for a goal, the YC were rewarded for a hard-fought team performance as the referee blew for full time in the 94th minute.